​2008 Annual Meeting - Memphis, TN

​The 2008 Annual Meeting of the National Conference of Governor's Schools will be held October 9-11 in Memphis, Tennessee. The meeting is hosted by the Tennessee Governor's School for International Studies at the University of Memphis. We are looking forward to an excellent meeting and invite all interested parties to attend and participate. Membership in NCoGS is not required to attend the conference.

We are requesting that all participants (or one representative from a single program) complete our Case Study survey in preparation for the Case Studies extended sessions. These sessions will address this basic question: when things go in unexpected directions, how have your reacted and what lessons have you learned that you can share with your NCoGS colleagues? Download the Case Study Survey form in Word format and send to Hope Smith by email attachment.

The Tennessee Governor's School for International Studies invites members and interested parties to the National Conference of Governor's Schools' 2008 Annual Meeting in Memphis, Tennessee. The theme of this year's meeting is Changing Culture. Our sessions will examine how governor's school programs must adapt to changing culture and how governor's school programs can change the culture of education and learning.

RegistrationThe registration fee of $250 (including NCoGS membership) or $200 (without NCoGS membership) includes all conference materials, meals from Thursday dinner through Saturday lunch, and a tour of the National Civil Rights Museum. Download the Memphis Registration Form and send by mail or fax to our meeting hosts, the Tennessee Governor's School for International Studies. Payment is accepted by credit card (American Express, Visa and Mastercard), check, or money order. If registration includes NCoGS membership (renewed or initiated), download the Membership Form 2008-2009 and send with the Registration Form.

Graceland TourWe are offering an optional tour of Graceland on Saturday afternoon, October 11. The tour will cost $40/person and will include round-trip transportation from the hotel and the tour. Use the Registration Form to reserve your place for the tour. A minimum of 15 people must sign up for the tour to take place.

Conference HotelOur conference hotel is the Holiday Inn Select Downtown Memphis. Conference pricing will be $149/night (excluding the usual taxes). This price will be available through September 9 at 5 p.m., so be sure to book early. Visit the hotel online at www.hisdowntownmemphis.com. The hotel is directly across the street from the Peabody Hotel (the one with the ducks in the lobby), a couple blocks away from Beale Street, and within walking distance from the Mighty Mississippi. All meetings will be held in the conference hotel, so we can enjoy all that downtown Memphis has to offer!

TransportationMemphis International Airport (MEM), more famous as the home of FedEx than for its passenger terminal, is served by several major air carriers including Northwest, American, Continental, Delta, AirTrain, Frontier, and United Visit the airport online at www.mscaa.com. The hotel lists the taxi fare from the airport to the hotel as $26. Additional options are provided by Hope Smith, among our hosts from the Tennessse Governor's School for International Studies.

Blues City Tours Airport Shuttle901-522-9229http://bluescitytours.com/shuttle.htmlMemphis International Airport Pick-Up Service to Memphis area: $22.00 per person ($32 roundtrip); For three people: $16 per person ($22 roundtrip); For four or more people: 10% discount.

If you’re driving in, the hotel charges for parking, $10 per day for standard vehicles and $15 for oversized vehicles.

Conference FeeThe conference fee will include meals from dinner Thursday to lunch Saturday, including the Mississippi Riverboat Cruise. Additional activities will require additional fees. Review the Registration Form for details and fees.

Best PracticesHow do we manage change in our programs? Changes in funding, applicants and faculty are just a few of the changes faced by Governor’s School programs each year. Our response to these changes will be one focus of the discussion in the Best Practices sessions. We will also focus on the question of diversity. How do we encourage the development of a diverse population in our programs? How do we increase diversity in the applicant pool, staff and faculty? Think about how your program addresses these issues and come prepared to share your experiences with the group.

Cyber Well-BeingIn the YouTube and Facebook generation, how should children be protected, and protect themselves, in cyber-reality? How do "virtual friends" in cyberspace translate into "real friends" in the real world and vice versa? What impact does all this have on Governor's Schools -- students, faculty, staff and a program as a whole? This session will take a look at what students are up to online and discuss the role Governor's Schools can and should play in educating students on how to create a responsible virtual presence. We will also look at how programs can control (and how they cannot control) their own virtual presence and what that communicates to various constituencies (students, parents, schools, communities).

Case Studies: Learning from Each OtherWhat happened and how can we learn from it? A constructive opportunity to dissect the good, the bad, and the ugly to better understand effective options for positive outcomes. Keep building your toolbox of and experience,learn from your colleagues who have been "there", and come away with new ideas of problem-solving for best results.